It all happened around 2 a.m. at Five Star, a restaurant and nightclub in Raleigh's warehouse district. The popular party place turned into a crime scene when two off-duty police officers working nearby heard gunfire.
Authorities say James Fant III fired several shots at Deon Jennings. Jennings died, and officers arrested Fant for homicide.
Jennings' uncle, Ray Green, and the rest of his family got the news just an hour after the shooting. They're still trying to cope with what they say was the motivation for his murder.
Family and friends of the victim say the chain of events started inside the club. The two men apparently got into a fight over the victim's girlfriend. Bouncers threw Fant out of the club. Just minutes later, Jennings walked outside. That's when police say Fant pulled a gun.
Fant, 27, doesn't have a criminal record. WRAL learned he graduated from college and worked in customer service for Blue Cross Blue Shield.
"It don't seem to fit the typical person that would do something like that," said Green.
As for Green's nephew, Jennings was convicted of three misdemeanor assaults. However, Green says his nephew was getting his life back on track.
"It seemed like to me he was doing everything pretty much with his head on straight," said Green.
Jennings, 26, leaves behind two young children. Fant is in the Wake County jail without bond.
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